It began life as a Quonset hut, became the base for the Fort Custard Fire Department, housed militia memorabilia and now waits for someone to write its next chapter.
The Station House in Māpua sits opposite the Four Square and at the bottom of the property purchased by Aleshia Gudsell and her partner Riki Jongenburger after its previous owner, Greg Olsen (‘Sir Greg’), died a couple of years ago.
Aleshia remembers visiting the building as a child on family holidays to Kaiteriteri, when it was filled with theatrical costumes and was entranced by its quirkiness.
“I just remember it being super quirky. Really random.”
Now as owners, the couple want to see the building brought back to life by leasing it to someone with creative vision.
“I’d just love to see something that adds to the community – there’s a lot of creative ideas out there.”
Since buying the property, locals have been sharing memories of The Station House and ‘Sir Greg’, including theatre classes held in ‘the bunker’ behind the façade.
‘Sir Greg’ earned his title when former Governor-General Catherine Tizard placed a sword on his shoulder after his group re-enacted the arrival of Abel Tasman in Golden Bay.
The group had researched and made Dutch naval uniforms and borrowed historical weapons for the event, which included a ceremonial volley from replica muskets followed by a blast from a small replica signal cannon.
An impressed Dame Cath asked what she could do in return and the answer was a knighthood. From then on, he was known as ‘Sir Greg’.
The Station House is built from a Quonset hut that ‘Sir Greg’ shifted from behind the former Globe Hotel in Nelson. The American concert hut is the equivalent to the English Nissen hut and ‘Sir Greg’ erected the quirky frontage to what has become known as ‘the bunker’ to house his military gear.
“He was a character. The house (above) is very whimsical too, and one of the entrance doors looks like a fort.”
Now they would like to see someone bring life back to The Station House in the middle of Māpua.
